Box closing machine



1959 R. J. BARTLETT ETAL 2,910,815

BOX CLOSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 14, 1953 INVENTORS.RICHARD J'. BARTLETT CLAUDE C. HALL & BY JACK A. MARTELL IWQW ATTORNEYSO. I Q

I Kw O w C l l l l Y u?! I O mw IITT T IY Ila 3, 1959 R. J. BARTLETT ETAL 2,910,315

BOX CLOSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 14. 1953 QON we 3 n Tow) O o N U- H 0 0 I- a 2. w L ""09 o r T T w, 8. 0 I 1 m. w 0 N2 7 N:8. 8. 2.. 8. 3. 2 NN.

J MWA u... m 2..

Y INVENTORS.

RICHARD J- BARTLETT CLAUDE C- HALL &

JACK A.MARTELL BY 4 M W MD;

ATTORNEY 1959 R. J. BARTLETT ETAL 2,910,815

BOX CLOSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 14. 1953 Nov. 3, 1959 R.J. BARTLETT ET AL BOX CLOSING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 14.1955 INVENTORS. RICHARD J. BARTLETT CLAUDE G. HALL 8\ s L. Y L m w. R R\A w A 1959 R. .1. BARTLETT ET AL 2,910,315

BOX CLOSING MACHINE Filed Aug. 14, 1953 5 SheetsSheet 5 FIG. 4.

FIG. 8.

INVENTORS. RICHARD J. BARTLETT FIG. 7. CLAUDE c. HALL a JACK A. MARTELLATTORNEYS United States Patent to Smith, Kline .& French Laboratories,Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 14,1953, Serial No. 374,222 6 Claims. c1. 53-314 This invention relates toa box closing machine and, more particularly, to a machine for foldingover and/or tucking in upstanding flaps in order to close the top ofabox.

It is general practice in packaging goods to place the article beingpackaged in a box which may be formed of cardboard or other suitablematerial and which is provided with side, back and/ or front cover flapswhich are successively folded over across the top of the box and atleast one of the flaps may be provided with a tongue which is insertedinto a receiving slot and is adapted to lock therein in orderto securethe box in a closed position.

After such a box is loaded, the closing of the various flaps and tuckingin of the locking tongue in a hand operation is diflicult and timeconsuming. It is diflicult for the operator to properly postion thevarious flaps of a box prior to the closing of the final locking flapand it is also difficult for the operator to hold the various flaps inproper position while tucking in the locking tongue.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an automaticbox closing machine into whichloaded boxes may be fed with their variousclosing fiaps in up standing position andwhich will act to turn down theflaps in their proper sequence and to insert and secure the finallocking tongue in a receiving space provided therefor. i

It is a further object of this invention to provide a box closingapparatus which is readily adjustable in order that it may accommodateboxes of various dimensions with ,regard to the. length and width of abox and with regard to the height of a box..

It is another object of this invention to provide a box closingapparatus in which the box is continuously moving durng all closingoperations.

V The foregoing and further specific objects of the invention willbecome apparent from the following description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, in which: 7

Figures 1A and 1B are front elevations of the lefthand and right-handportions of the machine, respectively;

Figures 2A and 2B and plan views of the left-hand and right-handportions of the machine, respectively;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the machine taken on the traceindicated at 3-3 inFigure 1A;

Figure 4 is a vertical section through the machine taken on the traceindicated at 4-4 in Figure 1B;-

Figures 58 are perspective views of a typical box in successive stagesof closure thereof existing as the box passes through the machine; and

Figure 9 is a diagram of the electrical system employed in the machine.l t

The box, as indicated generally at 2 in Figures 5-8, includes a frontpanel 4, side panels 6 and a rear panel "ice 8. Attached to andextending upwardly from each of the side panels 6 is a side flap 10which is adapted to be folded down over the top of the box. Extendingupwardly from the rear panel 8 is a cover flap 12 is adapted to befolded over the top of the box and the folded down side flaps 10 andclose olf the top of the box. The uppermost portion of the cover flap 12is provided with a pair of spaced tongues or cars 14. Extending upwardlyfrom the front panel is a locking flap 16. The spaced cars 14 areprovided with slots 0r recesses 18 which are adapted to engage portionsof the side flaps 10 when the box is in a closed position as will bedescribed. The spaced ears 14 also include slots or recesses 20 whichare adapted to engage portions of the locking flap 16. The locking flap16 is provided with slots or recesses 22 which are adapted to engage theslots 20 in the locking flaps 14 when the box is in aclosed position.

A corrugated filler is provided within the box in order to support thearticles contained therein and includes a corrugated cover plate 24. Thecorrugated cover plate includes a finger opening 26 in order that, whenthe corrugated cover plate is in a closed position, a person may, byextending his finger through the finger opening, conveniently grip thecover plate to raise it.

As shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the box is closed by successivelyclosing down the corrugated cover plate 24, turning in the side flaps10, folding down the cover flap 12 and the locking flap 16 and pressingor tucking the spaced ears 14 in between the front panel 4 and thecorrugated filler and cover plate 24. When the box is completely closed,as shown in Figure 8, the slots 18 in the spaced cars 14 engage theedges of the side flaps 10 and the slots 20 in the ears 14 and the slots22 in the locking flap 16 are in engagement with each other. The variousslots and their engaging members serve to retain the box in a closedposition.

The machine for closing the box may now be described. The machineincludes vertically extending legs 30 which support horizontallyextending frame members 32. Mounted on the frame members 32 is a bedplate 34. Extending from the left of the frame members 32 and theleft-hand legs 30 and supported thereby is a horizontally extendingframework 36.

A motor 38 is mounted on a framework 40 supported by the legs 30. Themotor 38 drives a speed reducer 42 to which is attached a sprocket gear44 over which runs a chain 46. The chain 46 drives a. sprocket gear 47which is mounted on a cross shaft 48 rotatably mounted in the framework36. A chain 50 running overe a second sprocket gear 51 on the shaft 48drives a second transverse shaft 52 through sprocket gear 53.

The transverse shaft 52 is rotatably mounted in the framework 36 andcarries a drum around which there passes the right-hand end of anendless conveyor belt 54 as viewed in Figure 1A. The left-hand end ofthe belt 54 runs over a drum mounted on a shaft 56 rotatably mounted inthe framework 36. An adjustable idler roll 58 is positioned below thelower reach of the belt 54 in order to adjust the tension of the belt 54as p it passes over the rollers on the shafts 52 and 56.

A ramp or apron 60 is mounted on the left-hand end of the framework 36and is provided to receive boxes from any suitable delivering means. Theboxes to be closed slide over the ramp 60 and are picked up by theconveyor belt 54, the upper surface of which moves to the right asviewed in Figures 1A and 2A. Guide bars 62 and 64 are provided adjacentto'each side of the belt 54 in order to guide boxes passing thereon asindicated in construction lines at 63. The left-hand end of the guidebars 62 and 64 are provided .with outwardly extending portions 66 and68, respectively, which are adapted to receive the boxes placed on theramp 60 and to guide the boxes into alignment as they pass onto the belt54. The guide bar 64 is mounted on horizontally adjustable brackets 70and vertically adjustable brackets 72. The guide bar 62 is similarlymounted. Thus the guide bars may be positioned to accommodate boxes of awide variety of widths and heights- A spacer 74 is attached to theinside of the guide bar 62 and extends for a major portion of the lengthof the bar. A relatively short spacer 76 is positioned inside of theguide bar 64 and extends in non-overlapping relation with the spacer.74.The right-hand most end of the spacer 74 terminates slightly more thanone box length from the left-hand end of the spacer 76. spacer 76 ispreferably adjustably mounted on the guide bar 64 in order that thisspacing may be adjusted for boxes of various lengths.

A limit switch 77 enclosed within a casing 78 is positioned generallyadjacent to the left-hand. end of the conveyor belt 54 as viewed inFigure 2A. A switch actuating member 80 extends inwardly of the guidebar 64 above the belt 54 in order to be engaged by boxes 63 cairied bythe belt 54. Engagement of the member 80 by a box 63 will serve to closethe limit switch 77.

A solenoid 82 is mounted on the bed plate 34 and has a member 84extending from its armature. Springs 86 within the solenoid casing urgemembers 88 against the armature to drive the armature and the member 84outwardly of the solenoid to a position where the member 84 extends overthe conveyor belt 54 and prevents the passage of boxes 63 therealong.The member 84 is positioned between the adjacent ends of the spacers 74and 76 which are afiixed to the guide bars 62 and 64 respectively. Thedegree of projection of the member 84 and the spacing provided by thespacer 76 are such that a box having been displaced sideways across theconveyer belt 54 by the spacer 76 is not engaged by the end of themember 84 when the member is in the extended position as shown in Figure2A.

.A cam 90 is mounted on the end of the shaft 52 opposite from theenddriven by the chain 50 and generally below the solenoid 82. A limitswitch 92 is mounted below the cam and is provided with a cam followerin order that the limit switch may be actuated by the cam. The cam 90and its associated limit switch 92, the limit switch 77 and itsassociated member 80, and the solenoid 82 are connected together in amanner as will be described in conjunction with Figure 9 and serve tocontrol the advance of boxes by the conveyor 54 as will be hereinafterdescribed.

A track 94 is recessed generally centrally on the top surface of andextends the entire length of the bed plate 34. An endless conveyor chain96 is adapted to run within the track. The conveyor chain 96 passesaround a sprocket gear 97 mounted on the shaft 48 and is driven thereby.The right-hand end of the conveyor chain 96, as viewed in Figure 1B, isadapted to pass over an upper sprocket gear 99 mounted on a transverseshaft 98 which is rotatably mounted on the right-hand end of the bedplate 34 and a lower sprocket gear mounted on a transverse shaft 100mounted on the right-hand legs 30. The endless conveyor chain adjacentto the lefthand portion thereof, as viewed in Figure 1A, passes under asprocket gear mounted on a transverse shaft 102 mounted on frame members41 which serve to position the lower portion of the conveyor chain.Spaced lugs 95. are attached to the conveyor chain and are adapted toengage boxes and carry the boxes along the top of the bed plate 34between. guideways and through the box closing mechanism as will bedescribed.

A plate 55 is provided between the right-hand end of the conveyor belt54, as viewed in Figure 2A, and the lefthand end of the conveyor chain96. The solenoid 82', the switch actuating member 80 and the camactuated limit The- 4 switch 92 are adapted to provide for themaintenance of an accumulation of a group of boxes on the conveyor belt54 and thus, before the solenoid can be actuated to permit the passageof a box from the-conveyor belt 54 to the conveyor chain 96, a box mustbe delivered to the conveyor 54. Thus this mechanism insures that, priorto the release of a box there are a sufiicient number of boxes on theconveyor belt 54 so that the frictional contact between the boxes andthe belt will be adequate to drive a box over the plate 55 and onto theconveyor chain 96.

The arrangement additionally provides for proper timing or sequencing toinsure the delivery of a box to the conveyor chain immediately before :1lug 95 comes into position to carry the box along the bed plate 34. Itis important that a box is not delivered to the bed plate 34 at suchtime that a lug 95 will be, for example, below the box and thus carrythe box along on top of the lug at an improper position on the conveyorsuch as to: cause jamming, in the. mechanism as will. be, hereinafterdescribed.

Boxes which are carried along the bed plate 34 by the:

, conveyor lugs 95 pass between a pair of flexible guide plates 104 and106 which are attached to and are extensions of the guide bars 62 and64,. respectively. The flexible guide plates 104 and 106 enter notchesin the left-hand ends of a pair of guide bars 108 and 110, respectively.The guide bars 108 and 110 extend for the remaining length of the bedplate 34 and serve to guide the boxes along the length of the bed plateas they are carried by the conveyor lugs 95. The guide bar is mounted onhorizontally adjustable brackets 109 and vertically adjustable brackets111. Guide bar 108- is similarly mounted. Thus, the guide bars may bepositioned to accommodate boxes of a wide variety of widths and heights.

The boxes are delivered to the conveyor belt 54 with.

the rear panels 8 thereof and the cover flaps 12 thereof positionedagainst the gnlide bar 64. A guide bar 112 mounted on an adjustablebracket 113 is provided in order to insure against a box passing intothe box closing, mechanism with the cover flap 12 inclined backwardly oroutwardly. At this position on the conveyor, the cover flap 12, asindicated by the construction line in. Fig. 3, is preferably andapproximately in a vertical position and the guide bar 112 insures thatthe cover flap 12 is not inclined backwardly or to the right: as itapproaches the position viewed in Figure 3.

A chain 114 driven by a sprocket 115 mounted on the shaft 102 drives asprocket 117 mounted on a transversely extending shaft 116. The shaft116 drives a transversely extending inclined shaft 120 through apair ofbevelled gears 118. The inclined shaft 120 is rotatably mounted in ahousing 121 attached to the rear frame 32.. A cam plate 122 is affixedto the uppermost end of the inclined shaft 120 above the bed plate 34.The cam. plate 122 has a lobe '124 and a lobe 128 spaced by a slot 126.The cam plate 122 is removably mounted on the shaft 120 and thus camplates of various sizes and forms may be employed depending upon thesizes of the boxes and the flaps thereof being closed. While theports124 and 128 are described as being lobes. on a cam, itlwill' beevident that they may be independent arms aflixed to either a singleshaft 220 or afiixed to separate shafts and rotating in overlappingrelation. However, the single cam structure described is preferablyemployed.

The position of the cam is synchronized through. the driving chains andgears previously described with the position of the lugs 95 on thedriving chain 96 so that, as a box passes thereunder, the lobe 124 ofthe cam which is rotating in a counterclockwise direction serves topress down the corrugated cover plate 24 and other articles inside thebox. Thereafter the .slot 126 passes over the side flap extendingupwardly from the trailing box side panel as the box is carried alongthe conveyor and then the lobe 128 engages this flap and presses itdownwardly over the corrugated cover plate.

A plate 130 is mounted on the rear guide bar 108 and extends partiallyacross and over the space between the guide bars 108 and 110 at anelevation immediately above the top of the box. As noted previously, theguide bars 108 and 110 are both horizontally and vertically adjustableand thus both the guide bars and the plate 130 may be positioned toaccommodate boxes of any size within a wide range of sizes. The extremeleft-hand portion of the plate 130 is provided with an upwardlyextending portion 132 which is adapted to engage and fold down theleading side flap 10 of the box as the box passes thereunder. Thepassage of the box and the rotation of the cam 122 is such that the lobeportion 128 of the cam serves to hold the trailing flap 10 in a turneddown position until the flap has passed under the plate 130.

The plate 130 is provided with a slot 134 extending from the left-handend of the plate adjacent to the upturned end thereof 132. Theright-hand end portion 136 of the slot 134 is curved inwardly toward theopposite guide bar 110. The left-hand end of the slot 134 is sopositioned that each upstanding box locking flap 16 enters therein and,as the box is carried along by the conveyor lugs 95, the curvature ofthe slot 134, as indicated at 136, will serve to fold the locking flap16 downwardly over the corrugated cover plate. A bracket 135 which aidsin supporting the plate 130 from the guide bar 108 is arched upwardly soas not to obstruct the tongue in its passage along the slot.

A flexible spring leaf 138 is mounted on the inside surface of the guidebar 110 in order to insure the positioning of each box snugly againstthe rear guide bar 108 thus insuring that the locking flap 16 is in afully depressed position and has been thus withdrawn out of the slot 136before the flap reaches the end of the slot 136.

A chain 140 which is driven by a sprocket 141 on the forward end of thetransverse shaft 116 drives a shaft 142 by means of a sprocket 143mounted thereon. The shaft 142 serves to drive a vertically extendingshaft 144 by means of bevelled gears 146. The vertically extending shaft144 is rotatably mounted in and extends upwardly through the bed plate34. A cam 148 is attached to the upper end of the vertically extendingshaft 144.

A pair of generally vertically extending arms 150 extend through the bedplate 34 and are pivoted, as indicated at 152, on pivots mountedimmediately below the bed plate. The lower ends of the arms 150 areurged by means of springs 154 to the left as viewed in Figure 4. Affixedto the upper ends of each of the arms 150 are horizontally extendingmembers 156 and attached to the left-hand ends of the members 156 is alongitudinally extending bar 158. The connection point between each ofthe horizontally extending bars 156 and the vertically extending members150 is adjustable in order to accommodate boxes of various heights andwidths.

The cam 148, previously described, is adapted to engage the forward orright-hand surface of the bar 158, as viewed in Figure 4, and urge thebar to the left, as

'viewed in Figure 4, against the urging of the spring 154.

A rod 160 is attached to the inward or left-hand end of the bars 156, asviewed in Figure 4, and serves to engage the upstanding cover flap ofthe boxes. The position of the cam 148 is so synchronized with respectto the passage of the boxes that the rod 160 is moved to the left eachtime a box comes into position and serves to move the cover flapdownwardly to a position such as that shown in Figure 7. At this time,however, the ears 14 of the flap are still extending outwardly parallelto the flap 12.

A pair of brackets 162 mounted on the guide bar 110 serves to support abar 164 which extends longitudinally over substantially the center ofthe space between the guide bars 108 and 110. Attached to the left-handend of the bar 164 is an adjustable portion 166 which is provided with aslight upward turn at its left-hand end as viewed in Figure 1B. As theboxes are carried to the right, as viewed in Figure 2B, by the conveyorlugs 95, the cover flaps will be moved downwardly by the action of therod actuated by the cam 14% and its associated mechanism as has beenpreviously described. The boxes with their cover flaps in theirdepressed position pass below the left-hand end of the portion 166 ofthe bar 164 and are carried along by the conveyor lugs under the bar164.

A framework 168 is mounted on the bed plate 34 and extends upwardlytherefrom. The framework 168 is adapted to adjustably mount rods 170which extend downwardly and forwardly therefrom and support a verticallypositioned longitudinally-extending plate 172. The framework 168 is alsoadapted to adjustably mount rods 174 which support an inclinedlongitudinally extending bar 176. The left-hand end of the bar 176, asviewed in Figure 1B, is provided with an upturned portion 17 8. The bar176 is positioned behind the plate 172.

The plate 172 is so positioned that the cover flaps are held downwardlyupon and in engagement with the upper surface of the plate 172 by theaction of the guide bars 166 and 164. The upturned end 178 of the bar176 is adapted to engage the spaced cars 14 of the cover flaps 12 as theboxes are moved along and the bar 176 presses the ears downwardly atapproximately right angles to the cover flaps over the top edge of theplate 172. Thus in this position the cover flaps 12 and the spaced cars14 are in the position indicated in construction lines in Figure 4.

The right-hand end of the plate 130, as viewed in Fig ures 1B and 2B, isprovided with a slot 180. Immediately above the slot 180 is an endlessconveyor belt 182 which is adapted to run over drums mounted on shafts184 and 186 mounted on a plate 188 which is attached to the rear guidebar 108. Thus the location of the conveyor 182 is properly positionedfor any size box being run through the machine when the rear guide bar108 is properly posi tioned. The conveyor 182 is driven by means of achain 190 running over a sprocket on the shaft 184 and running over asprocket on a cross shaft 192 in the frame 40. The shaft 192 has mountedat its forward end a spur gear 194 which is driven by a mating spur gear196 affixed to the end of an adjacently positioned shaft 198. A secondchain 200 running over a sprocket on the shaft 198 drives the shaft 198and is driven by means of a sprocket 201 mounted on the shaft 102. Thegears 194 and 196 are provided in order to provide the proper directionof travel of the conveyor belt 182 in order that the lower reach of thebelt 182 is moving to the right as viewed in Figure 1B.

It will be evident that, as the boxes are carried by conveyor lugs 95,the box cover flaps passing from the righthand end of the verticallyextending plate 172 will pass under the belt 182 and the plate 188 onwhich the belt is mounted will prevent the ears 14 from springingoutwardly. Thus, as the boxes move to the right as viewed in Figure 1B,the conveyor belt whose speed is synchronized with that of the box willserve to depress the cover flap of the box forcing the ears 14 throughthe slot 180 in the plate 130. The slot 180 is positioned immediatelyabove the ofrward edge of the box and very slightly inwardly of the rearguide bar 108. Thus, as the spaced cars 14 are depressed through theslot 180, the ears enter the box between the front panel 4 and thecorrugated filler.

The ears are driven downwardly as the box is moved to the right, asviewed in Figure 1B, toward the extreme right-hand end of the conveyorand the cover flap 12 is pressed firmly against the box. When the box isclosed, the slots 18 in the ears engage the forward edges of the sideflaps 10 and the slots 20 of the ears and 22 of the locking flap comeinto engagement with each other and thus the box lid is locked in aclosed position.

Closed boxes emerging from under the right-hand end tor 38 in aconventional manner.

of the conveyor 182, as viewed in Figure 1B, are carried to the right bythe conveyor lugs and pass under an inw'ardlyjextending hub 202 on aroller mounted on an arm 204 afiixed to the rear guide bar 108. Thisroller serves to provide a second depression or bending of the box lidand the side flaps in order that the closed box is discharged from themachine in a securely closed condition.

A plate 206 is positioned adjacent to the discharge end of the conveyorchain 96 and has mounted thereon guide supporting members 208 and 210'which may be extended to guide closed boxes as they are delivered fromthe box closing apparatus.

Referring to the electrical diagram of Figure 9, the machine isconnected to a suitable source of power which is delivered theretothrough power lines 214 and a suitable disconnect switch 216. The poweris delivered to a conventional motor starter 218 which is controlled bymeans of a conventional stop-start switch 212. The stop-start switch 212may be mounted conveniently on the machine as indicated at 2A. Thestop-start switch 212 and the motor starter 218 serve to control the moDetails of this circuit need not be included herein.

Connected to one of the lines extending from the motor starter to themotor is a conductor 219 which is connected to the limit switch 77previously described. The limit switch is connected in series with thelimit switch 92 and these two switches connected in series with one sideof the coil of the solenoid 82. The other side of the solenoid coil isconnected through conductor 220' to the other line extending from themotor starter to the motor. Thus, it will be evident that, at any timewhen the drive motor of the box closing machine is energized, thesolenoid 82 and the member 84 mounted on its armature will be operableto control the delivery of boxes from the conveyor belt 54 to theconveyor chain 96. As previously described, the limit switches 77 and 92operate to restrain the passage of open boxes 63 from the conveyor belt54 so that there are always a sufficient number of boxes accumulated onthe belt 54 to insure the passage of a box over the plate '55 betweenthe conveyor belt 54 and the chain 96 and, further, to insure thedelivery of boxes 63 to the chain 96 only at such time as the box Willbe properly engaged by a lug 95 aifixed to the chain. The arrangement issuch as to prevent delivery of boxes to the chain at such time duringwhich they might fall on top of one of the lugs 95 and be carried alongthereby in such a displaced position as to subsequently jam the machine.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that successive boxes arepositioned upon the chain conveyor and are carried continuously in astraight line through the box closing machine while the various closingoperations are performed thereon. These operations may be brieflyenumerated as follows:

(1) Pressing down the liner or other contents of the box;

(2) Pressing down the trailing side flap of the box;

(3) Pressing down the leading side flap of the box and hold-ing down theleading and trailing side flaps of the box;

(4) Folding down the locking flap and holding down the locking flap;

(5) Folding the cover flap in a non;

(6) Folding the ears of the cover flap at approximately right anglesthereto;

partially closed posi- (7) Pressing thecover flap and the earsdownwardly R against the top of the box and simultaneously pressing theears into the box and in locking engagement with the locking flap; and

(8) Applying a final closing pressure to the box to insure that the earsand the locking flap are securely engaged.

' It will be evident that the machine may be employed with boxes ofvarious sizes and shapes. It will be further evident that the machinemay be employed to close a box in which, for example, the liner coverplate is modified or omitted, or in which the side flaps are omitted.Furthermore, the box may be modified by replacing the arrangement shown,which involves two ears on the cover flap and one locking tongue, withan arrangement employing, for example, one ear and one locking tongueor, alternatively, though less desirably, one ear and two lockingtongues. All of these various modifications may be made to boxes whichmay be equally well accommodated by the box closing machine disclosed.

It will be evident that numerous modifications may be made to variousaspects of the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein withoutdeparting from the scope of this invention as set forth in the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

1. A box closing machine for closing a box having side flaps extendingupwardly from sides thereof, a cover flap extending upwardly from theback thereof, a locking flap extending upwardly from the front thereofand an ear extending outwardly from the outer end of the cover flapbeing engageable with a portion of said locking flap to retain the boxin a closed condition, the closing machine comprising a continuouslymoving conveyor means for advancing successive boxes in predeterminedspacedrelation with the front and rear of each box extending in thedirection of travel of the box, means for folding and holding down theside flaps of each box, means for folding and holding down the lockingflap of each box and means for successively positioning the cover flapof each box in a partially folded down position, then folding the ear ofthe partially folded down cover flap at approximately right angles tothe flap and then pressing down the cover flap to a fully closedposition thereby inserting the car into the box and into lockingengagement with the locking flap of the box.

2. A box closing machine for closing a box having side flaps extendingupwardly from sides thereof, a cover flap extending upwardly from theback thereof, a locking flap extending upwardly from the front thereofand an ear extending outwardly from the outer end of the cover flapbeing engageable with a portion of said locking flap to retain the boxin a closed condition, the closing machine comprising a continuouslymoving conveyor means for advancing successive boxes in predeterminedspaced relation with the front and rear of each box extending in thedirection of travel of the box, rotating means for pressing down objectswithin each box, rotating means for pressing down the side flap of thetrailing side of each box, fixed means for pressing down the side flapof the leading side of each box and for holding down both side flaps ofeach box, means for folding and holding down the locking flap of eachbox and means for successively positioning the cover flap of each box ina partially folded down position, then folding the ear. of the partiallyfolded down cover flap at approximately right angles to the flap andthen pressing down the cover flap to a fully closed position therebyinserting the car into the box and into locking engagement with the locling flap of the box.

3. A box closing machine for closing a box having side flaps extendingupwardly from sides thereof, a cover flap extending upwardly from theback thereof, a locking flap extending upwardly from the front thereofand an ear extending outwardly from the outer end of the cover flapbeing engageable with a portion of said locking flap to retain the boxin a closed condition, the closing machine comprising a continuouslymoving conveyor means for advancing successive boxes in predeterminedspaced relation with the front and rear of each box extending in thedirection of travel of the box, means for 9 folding and holding down theside flaps of each box, means for folding and holding down the lockingflap of each box, movable means for positioning the cover flap of eachbox in a partially folded down position, fixed means for folding the earof each folded down cover flap at approximately right angles to thecover flap and means engaging each cover flap after the ear is foldeddown and moving therewith as its associated box is advanced by saidconveyor means for pressing down the cover flap to a fully closedposition thereby inserting the ear into the box and into lockingengagement with the locking flap of the box.

4. A box closing machine for closing a box having side flaps extendingupwardly from sides thereof, a cover flap extending upwardly from theback thereof, a locking flap extending upwardly from the front thereofand an ear extending outwardly from the outer end of the cover flapbeing engageable with a portion of said locking flap to retain the boxin a closed condition, the closing machine comprising a continuouslymoving conveyor means for advancing successive boxes in predeterminedspaced relation with the front and rear of each box extending in thedirection of travel of the box, means for folding and holding down theside flaps of each box, means for folding and holding down the lockingflap of each box, movable means for positioning the cover flap of eachbox in a partially folded down position, fixed means for folding the earof each folded down cover flap at approximately right angles to thecover flap and an endless belt conveyor positioned above said conveyormeans adapted to engage each cover flap after the ear is folded down andmove therewith as its associated box is advanced by said conveyor meansand press down the cover flap to a fully closed position therebyinserting the ear into the box and into locking engagement with thelocking flap of the box.

5. A box closing machine for closing a box having side flaps extendingupwardly from sides thereof, a cover flap extending upwardly from theback thereof, a locking flap extending upwardly from the front thereofand an ear extending outwardly from the outer end of the cover flapbeing engageable with a portion of said locking flap to retain the boxin a closed condition, the closing machine comprising a continuouslymoving conveyor means for advancing successive boxes in predeterminedspaced relation with the front and rear of each box extending in thedirection of travel of the box, rotating means for pressing down objectswithin each box, rotating means for pressing down the side flap of thetrailing side of each box, fixed means for pressing down the side flapof the leading side of each box and for holding down both side flaps ofeach box, means for folding and holding down the locking flap of eachbox, movable means for positioning the cover flap of each box in apartially folded down position, fixed means for folding the ear of eachfolded down cover flap at approximately right angles to the cover flapand means engaging each cover flap after the ear is folded down andmoving therewith as its associated box is advanced by said conveyormeans for pressing down the cover flap to a fully closed positionthereby inserting the ear into the box and into locking engagement withthe locking flap of the box.

6. A box closing machine for closing cover flaps extending upwardly fromthree sides of abox comprising conveyor means for advancing successiveboxes in predetermined spaced relation, the boxes being positioned withflaps extending upwardly from leading and trailing sides thereof as theboxes are advanced and means for closing the cover flaps of the boxes asthey are advanced by said conveyor means, said closing means includingmeans for folding down the upstanding flap of the leading side of eachbox, means for folding down the upstanding flap of the trailing side ofeach box and means, including means moving generally horizontally andtransversely of said conveyor means followed by fixed means followed bymeans moving substantially linearly and in the direction of conveyortravel, for folding down the flap extending upwardly from the sidebetween the leading and trailing sides of each box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,575,901 Delarnere et al. Mar. 9, 1926 1,883,449 Andrews Oct. 18, 19322,064,200 Ford et al Dec. 15, 1936 2,136,901 Ferguson Nov. 15, 19382,146,001 Williams et al. Feb. 7, 1939 2,391,708 Johnson et al Dec. 25,1945 2,418,277 Petskeyes Apr. 1, 1947 2,558,751 Herbert July 3, 19512,584,529 Allen Feb. 5, 1952 2,598,135 Schmied May 27, 1952 2,625,778Wood Jan. 20, 1953 2,640,607 De Burgh June 2, 1953 2,654,981 StengerOct. 13, 1953

